01 septembre 2015

Italian activist arrested and beaten up in occupied Palestine

Update 31-08-2015 20:00: Vittorio
Feras court this morning again did not take any final decisions. It was
ruled to release him on a 3000 shekel bill under the condition that he
stay in Jerusalem and not leave the country until yet another court date
on September 8. Even though the bail has already been paid at noon,
Israeli forces kept delaying Vittorios release under different
pretences. Only at 8 pm was he finally released from prison.

Italian
activist Vittorio Fera was violently arrested and beaten by soldiers at
weekly demonstration in Nabi Saleh in occupied Palestine. The Italian
activist, 31-year old Vittorio Fera, is falsely accused of throwing
stones and attacking soldiers. His case will be taken to court the
second time Monday 31st August between 9 and 11 am.

Vittorio Fera violently arrested. Photo credot> Haim Schwarczenberg

During
a weekly demonstration in Nabi Saleh Israeli soldiers randomly arrested
two protesters: one 18-year old Palestinian youth and the Italian
activist Vittorio Fera. Fera went to the protest to document human
rights violations by the Israeli army against Palestinians and became a
victim of military violence himself.

While
documenting an Israeli soldier strangling a 12-year old boy, Vittorio
and the other activists were ambushed by Israeli forces. Vittorio was
separated from the group and violently shoved to the ground. “We were
shocked to see the boy being choked by a soldier, when suddenly soldiers
came running at us and attacked Vittorio”, Josephine from Denmark
explains.

Vittorio Fera with clear marks of military assult.

Journalists
witnessed soldiers kicking and beating him during the arrest, even
though he did not resist or fight back. Vittorio, and the Palestinian
youth, were forced into a military jeep where they were detained for
almost nine hours by the Israeli army, before they were finally taken to
a police station. Despite various demands of Feras lawyer to have him
brought to a police station immediately, both him and the Palestinian
were illegally kept in the military jeep until shortly before midnight.

Vittorio Fera with clear marks of military assult.

The
military accuses Vittorio Fera of throwing stones and attacking the
soldiers – an unfounded accusation. A first sentencing in court late
Saturday night only resulted in the postponing of the sentencing until
Monday morning. The hearing will take place in in Jerusalem Monday the
31st August 2015 between 9 and 11 am.